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David and Mephibosheth Craft for Kids

An easy David and Mephibosheth craft for kids in three levels: a place at the king's table, with bread to eat continually (2 Samuel 9:7). Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

David and Mephibosheth Craft for Kids
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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
2 Samuel 9:1–13
Bible story
David and Mephibosheth

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light yellow, light blue, brown, light brown, gray, purple and yellow, plus any colors for drawing Mephibosheth
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed harder page (page 3), one per child, plus a green crayon (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the wall light yellow, the two windows light blue, the table brown, the two loaves light brown and the floor gray. Leave the dotted arch white.Color the card: the wall light yellow, the two windows light blue, the table brown, the two loaves light brown and the floor gray. Leave the dotted arch white.
  2. In the window of the Mephibosheth piece, draw Mephibosheth from his waist up, sitting and eating bread at the king's table (2 Samuel 9:13). Color the frame purple.
  3. Color the bread on the plate piece light brown and the plate yellow.
  4. Cut out the card, the Mephibosheth piece, the plate piece and the verse strip on the dashed lines.
  5. Glue the Mephibosheth piece on the dotted arch behind the table, so its bottom edge sits on the tabletop.
  6. Glue the plate piece on the table in front of Mephibosheth, so the plate sits on the tabletop.
  7. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card. Read it together.
  8. Tell it: King David asked, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?" (2 Samuel 9:3). He fetched Jonathan's son Mephibosheth and said, "Fear not" (9:7). Point to the plate: Mephibosheth did eat bread at the king's table, as one of the king's sons (9:11, 9:13).Tell it: King David asked, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?" (2 Samuel 9:3). He fetched Jonathan's son Mephibosheth and said, "Fear not" (9:7). Point to the plate: Mephibosheth did eat bread at the king's table, as one of the king's sons (9:11, 9:13).

This David and Mephibosheth craft turns one printed page into the king's table. King David wanted to "shew the kindness of God" to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, who was lame on his feet (2 Samuel 9:3). Kids draw Mephibosheth in his window, glue him at the table and set bread in front of him, because David said, "thou shalt eat bread at my table continually" (9:7).

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, a glue stick, crayons and scissors.
  • Kids give him his place: every child sets Mephibosheth at the king's table "as one of the king's sons" (2 Samuel 9:11).
  • It shows the kindness of God: Mephibosheth called himself "a dead dog" (9:8), but David said, "Fear not" (9:7) and made room for him at his table.
  • It carries the verse home: 2 Samuel 9:7 (KJV), the memory verse for the whole Mephibosheth set, is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces. Kids color, draw Mephibosheth and glue him at the table with his bread. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color, draw, cut out the pieces and glue them.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids add a fold-out field from page 3, the land of Saul that David restored to Mephibosheth and told Ziba to till for him (2 Samuel 9:7, 9:10).

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask who David wanted to show kindness to (2 Samuel 9:1), who told him about Mephibosheth (9:3), where Mephibosheth lived (9:4), what David said first (9:7) and where Mephibosheth would eat bread (9:7, 9:13). Then read 2 Samuel 9:7 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces ahead of time, so all they do is color, draw and glue. Speak kindly about Mephibosheth: "lame" is the Bible's word for someone whose feet could not walk.

Teaching the story first? Use the free Mephibosheth lesson and the word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple Mephibosheth craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's card, Mephibosheth piece, plate piece and verse strip ahead of time. Preschoolers color the card and the bread, draw Mephibosheth in his window, and glue him behind the table with the plate in front of him. It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this Mephibosheth craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a glue stick and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page.

What Bible verse goes with this craft?

2 Samuel 9:7 (KJV), "And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually." It is the memory verse for the whole Mephibosheth set, printed on the verse strip that kids glue on the back.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids add a fold-out field from page 3 to the side of the card. Open it to show the land: David restored to Mephibosheth all the land of Saul, and told Ziba and his sons to till it for him (2 Samuel 9:7, 9:10).

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